A number of builders are turning their sights to affordable luxury projects. The market for these types of homes is growing especially within certain areas. So what is an affordable luxury home? And how is it different from a high end luxury home?

Affordable Luxury Homes

Affordable luxury homes are premium properties built at a target of being in the financial reach of a much larger number of buyers. These homes are targeted more to middle class and upper middle class buyers instead of a lower percentage of ultra-rich or high net worth individuals.

Many home developers stand to make most of their income in the luxury market, the limitation is that high-end properties are catered to a class that makes up less than 10% of the buying market. Building affordable luxury homes allows for a builder to focus on a larger group of buyers.

Many of these affordable luxury homes are built with the “luxury is a state of mind” concept. These homes provide a higher quality than your typical tract home with a distinct luxury flavor all without spending so much money on the building project that it prices out a large number of buyers. These homes provide a comparable luxury experience to their high-end counterparts in style, efficiency and advanced features without the staggering costs. Many affordable luxury homes are offered in large communities or townships in locations that are slightly more affordable.

Some may think that these affordable luxury homes are being made to compete with high-end properties but it is not the case. They simply offer a higher quality of living to folks who are not set on brand names rather they are looking for something nicer and moving into a bigger, safer, more comfortable living experience with added amenities at a price that can be mortgaged.

High- End Luxury Homes

Though the percentage of buyers for high- end properties is smaller, with tech and start up companies becoming more and more prominent the number of high net worth individuals is growing.

With the growth in numbers comes a growing demand in homes built with top of the line materials. High-end luxury homes offer the finest in all things luxury. This includes top of the line appliances, custom cabinetry, the finest stone counter tops, styling by accredited designers and more. You see, brand names and the craftsman who created the home do matter.

You will only find high end luxury properties in the most desirable of locations. Right in the center of uptown urban neighborhoods or tucked into prestigious small towns. These homes are not usually found in mega neighborhoods rather smaller more private settings or high rises with very astute doormen.

You will also find that a number of these homes are not listed on the open market or highly advertised. A high-end luxury home is best found through a knowledgeable luxury buyer’s agent.

Both types of luxury homes have their benefits and target market group. One thing is for sure when you are looking to purchase a luxury property a buyer’s agent can and will be of great help to find you the perfect home.

Along the Brunswick Islands are many small towns with oceanfront properties but is there a difference between oceanfront and beachfront?

They are often used simultaneously to refer to a home along the ocean but they can mean different things to appraiser, tax assessors and real estate agents.

Oceanfront

An oceanfront property is usually directly along the coastline of an actual ocean. Sometimes gulf homes may also be classified as oceanfront but usually we are talking the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean without a bay, inlet or some other parcel of land out beyond the ocean. If a home is on salt water but on the inlet side, like the Intracoastal Waterway, we would usually classify it as waterfront or on the waterway instead of ocean front even thought it’s on actual ocean water.

Most oceanfront homes have beautiful views of the ocean without obstruction other than some beach grass. Most homes are built as to maximize the look and view of the ocean. Living rooms, patios, decks and balconies are positioned to take the most advantage of the oceanview. And of course, living on the Atlantic means we’ll have the most sensational sunrises!

Oceanfront may also mean privacy. Some oceanfront homes may have beach access and be public so you may not have much privacy but then it comes down to the rights of the homeowner. Check with the listing on whether or not everyone and their brother can come traipsing across your beach.

Beachfront

Beachfront can actually have several connotations. It can mean an ocean view or just a beachfront access or close to a sandy beach. This could be on the gulf coast, waterway or even a large bay or sea. Some of the bays up close to Southport and Caswell Beach have homes along the beach of Cape Fear River but are not necessarily oceanfront homes. There are several beachfront homes along the Intracoastal waterway that we would not classify as oceanfront. Beachfront may also mean public access as well. The home may be close to the beach or offer access, but also offer access to the general public as well, making privacy something you say goodbye too.

Buying a beach house can be an adventure but it can also be a caveat for creating a lifetime of memories. The North Carolina shore stretches from the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands and each area offers a different shore front terrain. Finding where you want to buy is really the first step.

Location

Find out where you want to be, the amenities around the area and commute, if this plays a role. The Outer Banks are probably the most windy and treacherous but a little farther south in Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle, the shoreline is a bit more protected. Farther south is also more family friendly with calmer beaches, fishing and some swimmable waters. However, if you prefer the rough and tumble and stormy seas, the north end is your better bet but you may have more issues with home repairs and wind damage.

2. Style

The style of the home is your second step. Most oceanfront homes are built on stilts to withstand storms and flooding. This allows the water to swirl underneath while leaving the home dry on top. However this also means stairs. If you don’t want the struggle of stairs up to your home, you might consider buying a little farther from the shore.

3. Depth

This follows into the next tip; how close do you want to be to the shore? Some shoreline homes have sensational views but also come with the drawback of higher prices and more structural risk. Homes closer to the ocean require more maintenance and upkeep due to the salt air and wind. Prices and maintenance go down tremendously each block away from the ocean you go.

4. Negotiating

Depending on the time of year, vacation homes and ocean front properties can cause quite a bidding war. You can negotiate a great deal with a short sale home or foreclosure but this does tend to take much more time than a traditional sale. If you’re looking to move in quickly, you’ll want the expertise and skill of a professional real estate agent that knows the coastline homes and how to negotiate with homeowners. Getting what you want for the price you want, all the while understanding the risks and nuances of a coastal home is what we do best. With years and years under our belt, when it comes to helping folks buy the right coastal home, trust the experts with Frank and Karen Baker.

Ocean Isle Beach sits just east of Sunset Beach, primarily on the southern side of the intracoastal waterway, however there is a small section around old Georgetown Road to the north that is still part of the city limits. Most people consider everything from Sunset Beach to Holden Beach part of the Ocean Isle Beach area including the Ocean Ridge Plantation, a large golfing community to the north to south of Highway 17.

But, when were talking about oceanfront property, the majority of the residential homes are on the south side of the intracoastal waterway with many homes along First Street bordering the Atlantic Ocean. To $950,000 on average. Toward the south end of the community are several condominium and townhome units priced from $200,000-$500,000. At any given time there are roughly 200 properties for sale along this stretch of the East Coast. Some higher in luxury properties can range over $1.5 million, but this is not due necessarily for waterfront property but for the fact it could be a luxury estate, larger lot or lots of amenities such as a dock, boating capabilities, or water for facilities.

Lots on the Oceanside are roughly 5000 ft.² to 8000 ft.² and stretch to the ocean. These homes are not in a specific subdivision so most of them do not have any homeowners dues or fees. Between First Street and second Street are many homes priced from $300,000-$600,000 that may or may not have peekaboo views of the Atlantic Ocean depending on the obstruction south of First Street. I merrily, these oceanfront homes are set up on stilts with carports or garages on the main level and either two or three levels above that. Up toward E. 3rd St. are several lots available for sale along Chadbourne Street, a cul-de-sac road that goes from the ocean north along Second Street. These lots are between $150,000 and $190,000.

The farther one travels up E. 2nd St. the more sparse the properties with typically more land. Residents are likely to see over 10,000 ft.² lots priced from $600,000-$2 million. Currently there is a beautiful nine bedroom home at 410 E. 2nd St. priced at $1.3 million. The farther up one goes the more secluded and private homes become. Because there is no outlet at this end of town as well as limited modern conveniences, these are primarily homeowners that travel up Shallotte Boulevard and Baywatch Drive with homes priced from $120,000 for lots up to $700,000 for three and four bedroom homes around 2000 ft.². Many of these homes feature views of the intracoastal waterway and the Atlantic Ocean depending on where their set.

For more information on oceanfront homes and Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina please contact me today. I would be happy to send you a list of properties that meet your search criteria and price throughout Ocean Isle Beach or surrounding communities.

What our clients say

Jessica Lowery

I love working with Karen and Frank. They are honest, not pushy, and have your best interest in mind. They...

2015-05-12T20:51:52+00:00

I love working with Karen and Frank. They are honest, not pushy, and have your best interest in mind. They will also make you laugh! :) Love these two!!!

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Steve & Jean DeVito

“The Bakers treated us like family during our whirlwind weekend of looking at houses. Prior to our on-site visit to...

2015-03-16T20:17:46+00:00

“The Bakers treated us like family during our whirlwind weekend of looking at houses. Prior to our on-site visit to Sunset Beach they created a portal and populated it with properties that met our ever-evolving criteria. By time we arrived we had a good feel for what we could afford and what was available that met our criteria. The Bakers, especially Karen, were able to make sense of what we thought we were looking for and eventually matched us with a house that we ended up purchasing — Karen called it the “This is it” house and she was right. We are loving our 2nd home and appreciate how painless Karen and Frank made the process. All the paperwork was done seamlessly and quickly and the closing went off without a hitch. The Bakers do not believe in the hard sell — they gave us the knowledge we needed and the guidance we needed to make our dream a reality.”

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Amy and I have bought and sold four properties in the past twelve years. Both of you are the best...

2015-03-16T20:18:22+00:00

Amy and I have bought and sold four properties in the past twelve years. Both of you are the best realtors we have ever dealt with. Amy and I both felt we could trust you to look out for our interest. The level of service you provided was outstanding, from taking the trash out, helping the buyer with inspecting the irrigation system, dealing with our tenants, always being there if we needed to ask a question, providing constant updates on the market and always keeping us informed on the sale of our house. I think your next venture should be training other realtors, because both of you have mastered the art of providing excellent service. I will be sure to recommend the Frank and Karen team to anybody looking for a trust worthy, knowledgeable and top performing realtor. It was a pleasure working with both of you.”

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Ernie & Carol G.

“Karen & Frank Baker are the best. They are very knowledgeable with the area & showed us many homes. When...

2015-03-16T20:18:50+00:00

“Karen & Frank Baker are the best. They are very knowledgeable with the area & showed us many homes. When we made up our minds which one we wanted, they got us the best deal on it. We were very satisfided with them. After the purchased was made & we moved in, they were still there to answer any questions or problems that we might of had. Like I said, they are the BEST.”

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“Thanks again for all the time you spent with us, As overwhelming as it was, you two made it fun”

2015-03-16T20:19:23+00:00

“Thanks again for all the time you spent with us, As overwhelming as it was, you two made it fun”